The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-29
CURRENT TOPICS.

brate with other people. Christmas, New
Year, and the church festivals belong to the
world. But the Fourth of July and Memorial
day are ours alone-one commemorating the
birth of the Nation and the other its baptism
and second birth. In this regard both have
historic significance, but Memorial day has
an added element of pathos and sentiment
that appeals to the deepest and tenderest
thoughts of men. There is something
peculiarly touching and impressive in the
spectacle OF people pausing day in the
year and turning from their busy cares to
honor the memories of those who died that
the Nation might live. Other nations raise
monuments to their military and naval heroes.
This is well enough, but it is fitting
that a free people should in a larger
and broader spirit do perpetual honor to the
memories of the common soldiers, who fought
and died for their country. This is not mere
hero worship, for, in thus honoring their
memory, we have regard not more to the dead
than to the cause for which they died. In
decorating their graves we are at once paying
tribute to their memories and pledging anew
our allegiance to the principles which led
them to do. and dare, and die. Thus the
highest sentiments of patriotism and religion
unite in approving the observance of the day.
To-day and tomorrow, from ocean to ocean,
rom the lakes to the gulf, wherever a few
graves of Union soldiers are found, some
loving hands will decorate them with fresh
flowers, gentle reminders that their memories
pre- still kept green.
THE Cabinet crisis in France has been
'rded. or at least bridged over, NJ. Rouvier
aving formed Cabinet which President
Crevy has consented to accept on trial. The
Cabinet is moderate Republican, whatever
Eat may represent in French politics. The
cnifcant feature is that it does not include
General Boulanger, General Saussier being
ained as Minister of War. The exclusion of
Dou,anger will doubtless precipitate an excit-
ing controversy and may lead to the speedy
downfall of the new Ministry.
WHEN Mr.. OBrien's mission to Canada was
first announced the Journal expressed a doubt
whether it would result in any practical good
for the Irish cause. Showing up" Lord
Lansdowne was sure to create an excitement
and beget bad blood, but it was not easy to
see in advance what good results were to fol-
low. Events have proven the truth of this
forecast. Mr. O'Brien's visit has indeed
caused great excitement and much bad blood,
but, so far as can be seen. has done the Irish
cause no good. The attacks on Lansdowne
have only made his friends and loyal Cana
dams rally around him, and have evidently
cent reception in Ottawa was a remarkable
ovation. On this point Mr. P. H. Kelly, a
prominent and wealthy Irish citizen of St.
Paul, MINI, who has just returned from
Montreal, has expressed himself freely, de-
claring Mr.. OBriens mission extremely i'm
polite. Mr.. Kelly knows Mr.. O'Brien we'll
and esteems him highly, but thinks his course
in this matter has been very unwise. 1.-THE
only result accomplished by his visit" says
MIR. Kelly, 'has been to cement anew the
bonds between Queen Victoria and Lord
Lansdowne, and correspondingly weaken the |
Irish cause. Besides the members of the Cab |
inent referred to, there are number of Irish
men and their friends in the Canadian Par |
lament, but the latter have been severed from !
their cause by the O'Brien incident"
THE recent shooting of colored man by an |
officer has caused considerable feeling among |
that class of citizens, and they propose to hold
a public meeting ''to the end" as the call |
says, that justice may be subserved, and a |
stop be put, once and for all, to the careless
nd reckless shooting of colored men by cow
ardly and unprincipled policemen" We are
not much surprised at the indignation of the |
colored people, but they seem to be moving |
on a wrong line. There is no question of
color or race involved in the evil Of reckless
by officers. 1t is one that affects
white as much colored people. 1t is mis-
take calculated to work mischievous results
to assume that there is more careless shooting
of colored people than of whites. The evil is
one of principle. 1t does not affect one class
more than another, and all are alike inter
ested in It's reform.
WITH all his catholcity and good-humored
tolerance of views not in harmony with his
o9n, that genial parsonage DIR. Oliver Wendell
Holmes does not swerve hairs breadth from
the strictest adherence to the iron-clad code
which forbids the regular" physician to look
with the slightest degree of lenience upon any
deviation from his sacred medical creed.
r.